Tagamet Misuse: Effects on the Elderly

While many college students have not heard of Tagamet HB200, as a nurse it will help when assessing elderly patients, since many elderly use it in the treatment of stomach ulcers. If mixing and misusing OTC drugs is common for the average young adult, think of how common misuse may be in the elderly patient consuming 12 medications a day that are prescription, and topping those off with several OTC medications.

Tagamet HB200, or also known by its generic name, Cimetidine, is used to treat and prevent stomach ulcers, GERD, and treating other conditions associated with excessive acid secretions, such as hyper acidity. This drug works as a histamine H2-antagonist, inhibiting the action of histamine, therefore inhibiting the stomach cells secretions of acid.

Since the elderly may have developed the condition of hyper acidity, this medication is wonderful for treating the discomfort that comes with the condition. The elderly patient also does not have to make a doctors appointment to get a prescription, which allows them to go to the store conveniently on their own time. It is also a great over-the-counter medication to treat and prevent stomach ulcers which can lead to even bigger problems in an elderly patient.

Although effective for solving gastric conditions, misuse can result in increased levels of other drugs in the blood and decreased absorption of other drugs (which is a problem for an elderly patient since they are taking so many medications at once). Over-the-counter Tagamet HB200 is only for occasional use to prevent heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach.

Tagamet HB200 is often seen and used by the elderly, and if uninformed, can have dangerous side effects when misused. Many elderly are guilty of polypharmacy and overusing medications. Left unaware of major side effects and consequences of mixing medications such as blood thinners, oral asthma medication, seizure medications, calcium channel blockers (heart medications), or even mixing antacids with this drug may be devastating and have toxic side effects.

Tagamet HB200 affects the cytochrome P450 drug metabolism in the liver of other medications and can increase the level of these drugs in the blood to toxic levels. The consequences could be deadly if unaware of the effects on the body. There are also many drugs that are absorbed in an acidic stomach, which ultimately become ineffective in acidic conditions of the stomach. This can lead to the worsening of their conditions the individual may have from lack of medication, which the individual may not understand and wouldn't know how to reverse the effects.

Tagamet HB200 can be greatly misused by the public if left uneducated of its effects on other drugs. Its uses may be effective but dangerous unless used properly and informing a physician of all drugs being taken at that time.

Points for the public to take home, provided by rxlist.com:

• "Do not take tagamet if you are taking any sort of cancer drugs
• Do not take tagamet if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast feeding
• Do not take tagamet if you have liver or kidney issues" (Rxlist.com, http://www.rxlist.com/tagamet-drug.htm#at)

Points for nurses, provided by rxlist.com:

• "Remember not to mix anticoagulants with this medication
• Teach your patient that this medication is for hyper acidity, but should only be taken occasionally
• Keep in mind that this medication comes in both a suspension, and tablet. Make sure that if your patient is currently needing this medication, that they can swallow a tablet safely, or else suggest the suspension (tell them to shake the medication before every use)" (Rxlist.com, http://www.rxlist.com/tagamet-drug.htm#at)

Would you bring this up to your grandparent next time you see Tagamet in their medicine cabinet?

Sources: www.tagamethb.com, www.medicimnet.com/ametidine/article.htm

Cough and Cold Medicine: What Effects Can Come from Their Misuse

Lately in the news, medical professionals and pharmacists alike have urged parents to stop administering cough and cold medication to their children for use of causing drowsiness in situations such as long plane rides. Other reports have even suggested that cough and cold medication is irrelevant in children under a certain age. Cough and Cold medications don't just effect children; all consumers, whether young or old have the potential of misuse.

Often people wonder, "Which medicine do I choose?" These are the people that stand on the medicine aisle in the grocery store just picking up different medicine boxes and reading ONLY the font. Rarely, people actually see what is in the medicine they do decide to use.

One way of misuse is taking more than one medication at a time with the same ingredients, as with acetaminophen (one of the many ingredients found in cough/cold medications). Today, there are many medications that have the same ingredients in them. While taking tablets with acetaminophen to help with pain relief, you would not want to also take cough medicine with acetaminophen in it. This can be dangerous because it may lead to liver damage and/or toxicity.

Another common misuse of cough and cold medication commonly seen in teenagers, is using the OTC drug to get high. This is very dangerous since one of the most common ingredients in modern day cough and cold medicine is dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is a very safe substance when used at the recommended dosage, which comes on the labels. It is only when the body gets too much DXM, either purposely or by accident, is when it becomes a problem. DXM overdose side effects can include nausea/vomiting, uncontrolled muscle spasms, irregular heart rate, hallucinations, liver damage, and even death.

No matter which way cough and cold medication is misused, everyone would be better off having education about the medicines we purchase and bring into our homes.

Sources: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cold-medicine-misuse-reported-at-parkrose-high/2396929716 http://kidshealth.org/parent/h1n1_center/h1n1_center_treatment/cough_cold_medicine_abuse.html http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0601/p03s01-ussc.html http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0959471820080109

Below is a recent news story covering the misuse of cough and cold OTC medications at a high school: